A&P 1 Chapter 1.6: Many internal organs lie in membrane-lined body cavities

oral and digestive cavities

(aka mouth) contains the teeth and tongue (opens to the body exterior at the anus)

orbital cavities

(orbits) located in the skull and house the eyes and present them in an anterior position

parietal serosa

(parie-"wall) part of the membrane lining the cavity walls (ex. outer ballon wall)

pelvic cavity

the inferior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity that lies in the bony pelvis and contains the urinary bladder, some reproductive organs, and the rectum

abdominal cavity

the superior portion of the abdominopelvic cavity that contains the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, and other organs

Thoracic body cavity

the superior subdivision of the ventral body cavity that is surrounded by the ribs and muscles of the chest

organs in the hypogastric (pubic) region

urinary bladder

organs in the right lumbar region

ascending colon of large intestine

organs in the right iliac (inguinal) region

cecum and appendix

umbilical region

centermost region deep to and surrounding the umbilicus (navel)

organs in the left lumbar region

descending colon of large intestine

organs in the left hypochondriac region

diaphragm and spleen

Pericardial cavity

enclosed in the mediastinum and encloses the heart and surrounds the remaining thoracic organs (esophagus, trachea, and others)

peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneums

pleurisy

inflammation of the pleurae

organs in the left iliac (inguinal) region

initial part of sigmoid colon

synovial cavities

joint cavities enclosed within fibrous capsules that surround freely movable joints of the body (secrete lubricating fluid that reduces friction as the bones move across one another)

right and left hypochondriac regions

lateral to the epigastric region and deep to the ribs (chondro=cartilage)

right and left lumbar regions

lateral to the umbilical region (lumbus=lion)

organs in right hypochondriac region

liver and gallbladder

middle ear cavities

located in the skull and lie medial to the eardrums. contain tiny bones that transmit sound vibrations to the hearing receptors in the inner ears

hypogastric (pubic) region

located inferior to the umbilical region (prefix="below")

right and left iliac (inguinal) regions

located lateral to the hypogastric region (iliac=superior part of the hip bone)

epigastric region

located superior to the umbilical region (prefix="upon", suffix="belly")

nasal cavity

located within and posterior to the nose (part of the respiratory system passageways)

Meninges

membrane that cover the brain and the spinal cord

ventral body cavity

more anterior and larger of the closed body cavities that houses the viscera (visceral organs) (viscus=an organ in a body cavity)

Dorsal body cavity

protects the nervous system organs

4 abdominopelvic quadrants

right upper quadrant (RUQ), left upper quadrant (LUQ), right lower quadrant (RLQ), left lower quadrant (LLQ)

visceral serosa

serosa that folds in on itself to over the organs in the cavity (ex. inner balloon wall)

visceral peritoneum

serous membrane that covers most of the organs within the abdominopelvic cavity

visceral pleurae

serous membrane that covers the lungs

visceral pericardium

serous membrane that folds back and covers the heart

parietal peritoneum

serous membrane that is associated with the walls of the abdominopelvic cavity

parietal pericardium

serous membrane that lines the pericardial cavity

parietal pleurae

serous membrane that lines the walls of the thoracic cavity

organs in the umbilical region

small intestine

organs in epigastric region

stomach

Diaphragm

a dome-shaped muscle important in breathing that separates the thoracic cavity from the more inferior abdominopelvic cavity

Pleural cavities

a lateral subdivision of the thoracic cavity that each envelope a lung

Mediastinum

a medial subdivision of the thoracic cavity that contains the pericardial cavity

Cranial cavity

a subdivision of the dorsal body cavity that is located in the skull and encases the brain

Vertebral (spinal) cavity

a subdivision of the dorsal body cavity that runs within the bony vertebral column and encloses the spinal cord (continuous with the cranial cavity)

serous fluid

a thin layer of lubricating fluid that separates the serous membranes (secreted by both membranes)

Serosa (serous membrane)

a thin, double-layered membrane that covers the walls of the ventral body cavity and the outer surfaces of the organs it contains